Targeted fluid/solid dispensing based on sensed seed data or sensed plant data

Abstract

A planter system includes seed sensors for determining seed placement in a furrow to then target at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the seed. A material application system dispenses a fluid or solid material with one or more dispensing devices containing at least a first material dispensing location to dispense material into a seed furrow and a second material dispensing location to dispense material into the seed furrow or into a furrow that is laterally adjacent to the seed furrow. Plant sensors determine locations of plants within a field and then target at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the plant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A planter system for planting seeds and applying a material comprising:
 a seeding meter for dispensing seed through a seed tube or other device;   a sensor to detect seed or seed frequency including sensed seed pulses;   a material application system to apply material in response to receiving a signal that is based on sensed seed pulses, the material application system dispenses the material with one or more dispensing devices containing at least a center applicator at a first material dispensing location to dispense material into a seed furrow, and a first sidewall applicator at a second material dispensing location to dispense material into a first sidewall of the seed furrow;   a flow diverting device to divert flow between the first and second material dispensing locations to only dispense one material dispensing location at a time; and   a control system to use the sensed seed pulses to command the material application system to apply the material either by synchronizing with the seed pulses or a direct relationship between a sensed seed pulse and pulsed material application.   
     
     
         2 . The planter system of  claim 1 , wherein the material application system comprises a downstream on-off pulse width modulated valve. 
     
     
         3 . The planter system of  claim 1 , wherein the material application system comprises a voice coil actuated valve. 
     
     
         4 . The planter system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow diverting device enables flow during a certain region of a field for the first material dispensing location and enables flow during a different region of a field for the second material dispensing location. 
     
     
         5 . The planter system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more dispensing devices comprises the center applicator at the first material dispensing location, the first sidewall applicator at the second material dispensing location to dispense material into the first sidewall of the seed furrow, and a second sidewall applicator at a third material dispensing location to dispense material into a second sidewall of the seed furrow. 
     
     
         6 . The planter system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one opening disc to open the seed furrow having a first depth; and   a trench forming member to open a furrow having a second depth that is laterally offset to the seed furrow, wherein the one or more dispensing devices further comprises a fluid applicator at a fourth material dispensing location to dispense material into the furrow that is laterally offset to the seed furrow.